Anyone gives own meds?

[Wu-Gwei]

I was wondering if any herp keepers de-worms/de-parasites their own collection. I am starting to get a lot of animals and the last time I went to the vet, the vet said I can do it myself. I have seen it done quite a few times and I have been reading about parasites from a couple of books & websites.

I'd like to hear others' experiences.


Cheers,
JJ;)

[BWSmith]

I do 90% or higher of vet care myself.

[ballpython5000]

i see de worming stuff for sale all the time at pet stores

[ReptiZone]

I do it all my self unles it is a new animal then I go see a vet. If it is a rutine booster every (6 monts to a year) then I do it my self. But don't use the pet store crap you have to ordre it stright from a vet, cause the pet store stuff is all watered down amd just helps the perasite grow a imune system and then you cant kill it just my experience any way.The vet can walke you throu the prosidure

[The_Omen]

I do 90% or higher of vet care myself

Same here.
The good dewormers can be gotten at the vet or at most feed & tack stores, but either place will be pricy.

I guess the best thing is to have a great rapport with your vet, so that you can call and ask for help with stuff OR be asked an opinion yourself.

[BWSmith]

Usually if I get precriptions from the vet will an endless renewal. That way they have one vet visit for their records, but I dont have to go back for RIs or new addition treatments.


If it is a rutine booster every (6 monts to a year) then I do it my self.
Just out of curiosity, what are you referring to as a "routine booster"?

[ReptiZone]

it has ben sayd that snakes can contract internal parasites from there food not wanting to so in the event of that hapaning and not knowing my animals get a oral de wormer every 6 monts to year depending if the stols are good or not. I f there are not they get it when I check them every 6 monts if they are good they only get it every year. I use the term boster vagly it is not an injection
manly flagil or panacure depending on what is needed. I hope that is what you were wondering.

[Wu-Gwei]

Thanks for the input.

I mean Panacur & Flagyl are easy to use and it's just a matter of getting them. I guess having a good rapport with the vet is key, eh.

Cheers,
JJ

[ReptiZone]

yep yep........if you have a good rapor with the vet almost every thing is in your favor aslong as you know what your doing it can actualy be a verry good learning experiance

[The_Omen]

it has ben sayd that snakes can contract internal parasites from there food

That depends.
Are you feeding live, fresh killed or frozen?

I would do a fecal first, instead of treating.
No need to treat if nothing there.

[ReptiZone]

it depends what is on hand at the time but it is alwas dead weather it is thawed or fresh killed never live that bring a hole new line of problems and feacal is alwas sent away first

[Wu-Gwei]

Yes, a fecal exam would be good to determine what it has and especially if it has any serious parasites. But that costs money and if you have a lot of animals... I just thought it would be good prevention if I did it yearly myself, without a fecal exam. Better than not taking a herp to a vet at all.

I think it's good practice to do yearly dewormings, especially if one feeds live prey regularly. It's almost gauranteed that a reptile feeding on live prey will have parasites. I have not read any side effects of giving it Pancur or Flagyl once a year.


Cheers,
JJ

[BWSmith]

Just learn to do your own fecals.

[ReptiZone]

no it is verry hard to overdose with thows drugs

[BWSmith]

Flagyl is much less forgiving than Panacur.

[Linds]

I do all my own basic medical procedures myself (deworming, some infections, etc). If it beyond my call, such as xrays, blood work, etc, then I seek out my vet. Unfortunately my vet is strictly by the books, which makes it difficult for me to attain any drugs without a visit, or even have them called in to vets down here :rolleyes: I'm sure there are many other vets that would be easier to work with, however, the only vet I trust is the one that I am at. All the vets down near me are useless :confused:

Originally posted by chondro python
no it is verry hard to overdose with thows drugs

Fenbendazole (panacur) has a fairly large safety margin, however as forementioned by BWsmith, flagyl does not. Even vets have caused fatal overdoses using it. Extreme caution needs to be applied (as with any drug) when using it.

[eyespy]

Yeah, I've seen a fair number of deaths, and an even larger number of neurological defects that were caused by Flagyl overdosing. I never give Flagyl unless there are confirmed protozoa in the fecal samples. I have very accurate triple balance beam scales and weigh my animals before every dose of meds, too, to make sure dosing is not just a guesstimate.

But my vet friends come for dinner almost every Monday night and we give all the animals a once-over, including monthly fecals. They even bring a portable xray or ultrasound if needed. I realize not everybody has that luxury.

[J_Riley]

Man, I need to get some vet friends like that!!

[Xetox]

Yea I grew up with two people that become vets, we dont meet evermonday or no shite like that but, I get most my work done for free :)

[Wu-Gwei]

Originally posted by eyespy
But my vet friends come for dinner almost every Monday night and we give all the animals a once-over, including monthly fecals. They even bring a portable xray or ultrasound if needed. I realize not everybody has that luxury.


Hey Eyespy, you didn't fill in your location. If you're around me, your vet is invited to my place every Tuesday. :p


About Flagyl, if one follows the dosages, I don't think it's THAT bad. Yes, Flagyl is less forgiving than Panacur.


Cheers,
JJ;)